Semi-automatic ice maker with air distributing means



Oct. 25, 1966 B. J. GRIMM ETAL 3,280,584

SEMI-AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER WITH AIR DISTRIBUTING MEANS Filed May 12, 1965 2 SheGHs-Sheefl l A l A S7 I NVENTOR-S F' l BERNARD J'. GRlMM BYSDwlGf-IT wV .TACOBUS THEIR ATTOR'JQY Oct. 25, 1966 B. J. GRIMM ETAL SEMI-AUTOMATIC ICE MAKER WITH AIR DISTRIBUTING MEANS Filed May 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITK-:1.3

INVENTORS BERNARD :n GRIMM SDWIGHT w. :rAcoBUS wenn ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,2%,534 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 3,280,584 SEM-AUTQMATIC ICE MAKER WITH AIR DHS'ERIBUTNG MEANS Bernard l'. Grimm and Dwight W. Jacobus, beth of Louisville, Ky., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 12, 1965, Ser. No. 455,226 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 62-344) The present invention relates to semi-automatic ice makers and is more particularly concerned with an improved semi-automatic ice service for household refrigerators including a freezer maintained at below freezing temperatures by cooled air circulated through the freezer compartment.

Refrigerators including a freezer compartment cooled by means of a stream of air from an evaporator generally disposed outside of the freezer compartment `are well known. In the design of such refrigerators, it is desirable to provide means for evenly distributing throughout the compartment refrigerated air supplied thereto. It is also ydesirable to provide within the freezer compartment means for manufacturing ice cubes or pieces.

The present invention has as its principal object the provision of a household refrigerator including, Within the freezer compartment thereof, a housing for receiving cooled air and for distributing the air through the compartment and means contained within the housing for manufacturing, harvesting and storing ice pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact semi-automatic ice service in which both ya freezing tray and an ice storage receptacle are contained within a housing or tunnel in which they are subjected to the coldest air supplied to the freezer compartment.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will vbecome apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this Specification.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including ya freezer compartment having an access opening at the fr-ont thereof and an air inlet for introducing refrigerated or cooled air into the freezer compartment. A housing or tunnel is provided within the freezer compartment for receiving the cooled air supplied to the compartment through the air inlet and for distributing that air throughout the compartment. The housing has an access opening at the front thereof and contains a semi-automatic ice service including an ice receptacle slidably supported within the housing for movement between a normal position within the housing and an access or extended position forward of the access opening. Also contained `within the housing above the receptacle is a sliding frame which is likewise movable between a first or normal position within the housing and a second or access position forward of the housing. On the frame there is pivotally mounted a freezing tray in which water is frozen into ice pieces. In its freezing or upright position, the tray overlies one side portion of the frame and is pivoted adjacent its inner edge whereby it can be rotated to an inverted position above the other side portion of the frame in which position ice pieces from the tray are discharged into the receptacle when both the frame and receptacle are in their forward or extended positions. Means are provided for automatically introducing into a tray a charge of Water when the tray and frame are within the housing and the tray is empty. The frame and receptacle are so constructed that, while the receptacle may be moved to its extended or access position independently of the frame and the freezing tray supported thereon, movement of the frame through the access opening to the housing also causes the lreceptacle to move forwardly with the tray to a position for receiving ice pieces discharged from the tray.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may =be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View, in section, of a household refrigerator embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with the ice receptacle in a forward or access position;

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 with both receptacle and freezing tray and frame in their forward or access positions; and

FIGURE 4 is a front view, partly in section, of the semiautomatic ice service of the present invention.

With reference to the drawing, there is shown a refrigerator comprising insulated walls defining an upper freezer compartment 1 intended to operate at a temperature below freezing and a lower fresh food compartment 2 adapted to operate at an above freezing temperature. The two compartments are separated by a horizontal insulating partition 3. The access opening at the front of the freezer compartment is closed by an insulated door 4 while the access opening to the fresh food compartment is closed by an insulated door 5. The two compartments are maintained at their desired operating temperatures by circulating air from the two compartments over an evaporator 6 contained within a chamber 7 formed within the insulated partition 3. It is to be understood that condensed refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 6 from a condensing unit (not shown) generally housed within the machinery compartment in the lower portion of the cabinet.

Air circulating means including a fan 8 and suitable air passages connecting the two compartments with the evaporator chamber 7 are provided for circulating air from the two compartments over the evaporator 6 and returning refrigerated or cooled air to the compartments. Air from the freezer compartment 1 enters the front end of the evaporator chamber i6 through la horizontally extending louvered passage 9 in the front portion of the partition 3 and after passing over the evaporator 6, cooled air is returned by the fan 8 to the freezer compartment through an inlet passage 10 adjacent the intersection of the rear wall 11 and the bottom wall 12 of the freezer compartment. Similar passages in the lower portion of the partition 3 interconnect the frest food compartment and the evaporator chamber 7.

A combination ice service housing and air deector generally indicated by the numeral 14 is provided in the freezer compartment. This housing 14 is designed to be supported on the bottom wall 12 of the freezer compartm'ent in a position overlying the air inlet 10 More specically, the housing 14 includes a top wall 16 which is solid over substantially its entire area except for -a recess 17 forming an air passage in the front edge thereof and opposed sidewalls 19 which support the housing on the bottom wall of the freezer compartment. Suitable air passages such as the passages 26 in the side walls 19 may be provided for directing some of the air from the housing 14 towards the opposed sides of th'e freezer compartment 1. The front of the housing is generally open t-o provide an access opening 22 facing the access opening to the freezer compartment closed by the door 4. Thus the below freezing air supplied to the freezer compartment through the inlet passage 1i) passes through the housing befor'e entering the main portion of the compartment 1 through the various passages 17 and 20 While air from the freezer compartment is withdrawn into the evaporator chamber 7 through the return passage 9 at the front of the partition 3.

In accordance with the vided within the housing comprising an ice storage present invention, there is pro- 41 a semi-automatic ice service receptacle 24 slidably supported within the lower portion of the housing 14 and a freezing tray slidably supported within the housing above the receptacle 24. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, means for supporting the receptacle 24 and freezing t-ray 25 :comprises a pair of spaced vertically extending brackets 26 of the housing. The tray 25 is pivotally supported on a generally rectangular frame 28 including front and rear pairs of rollers 31 adapted to ride on the upper arm-32 of channel-shaped guides 33 aixed to the brackets 26. The frame 28 also includes a front set of rollers 35 adapted to ride on the upper surfaces of flanges 36 on the opposed side edges of the vreceptacle 24 when the receptacle is in its extended position.

The side flanges 36 of th'e receptacle 24 are slidably supported within the channel members 33 and also ride on -opposed rollers 37 mounted on the brackets 26 forward from the front edges of the channel 33.

A downwardly extending stop 39 on Athe forward edge of the upper channel arm 32 adapted to be engaged by the rear wall 40 of the receptacle 24 and a similar stop 41 on thelower channel arm adapted to be engaged by the rear portion of the frame 28 when these two members are moved in the forward direction, limit forward travel thereof and prevent them from being accidentally withdrawn from the housing during normal use. ,Howeven these stops are so designed that either the frame 28 or the receptacle 24 can be removed from the support mechanism for cleaning purposes.

As is illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the tray 25 is pivotally supported on the frame 28 by pivoty pins 42 which mount the tray 25 on the frame 28 for pivotal movement about an axis adjacent t-o and spaced inwardly from the inner side edge 43 of the tray. The free or outer edge 44 of the tray is supported by means of a weighing device generally indicated by the numeral 45 which is designed to hold the tray, when empty, in an upper position and to permit the tray to drop to a lower position when lled with water. The weight actuated device contained within a housing 46 includes an arm 47 engaging a lower surface of the tray 25. The particular weight actuated device forms no part of the present invention and the details of such a device are shown and deadjacent the opposed side walls 19 scribed in Patent 3,163,025, `issued to Dahlgren on December 29, 1964.

When it is desired to harvest a batch of ice pieces from the tray 25, the frame and receptacle are rst moved to their extended or access positions as shown in FIGURE 3 after which the tray, which is preferably composed of a flexible plastic material, is rotated to an inverted discharge position shown i-n dotted lines in FIGURE 4 of the drawing. In this position, the rear edge of the .tray contacts a stop 48 provided on the frame 28'. Pressure -on the forward edge of the tray causes the t-ray to flex yand discharge the ice pieces therefrom through the open position of the frame 28 below the inverted tray. i

When the tray is returned to its freezing position, the weight actuated devi-ce supports the tray in a slightly elevated position so that when the tray kand frame are moved to their recessed position in the housing, the outer 'edge 44 of the tray will contact and actuate a switch 50 mounted on the adjacent bracket 26. The switch 50 forms part of control circuit f-or a solenoid operated water supply valve 51 adapted to introduce water through a supply line 52 into the tray when the valve is open. The valve is opened only when the tray is in its normal position within the housing and is empty. When the weight of thewate-r in the tray 25, causes it to drop to a lower position against the biasing action of the weight actuated device 45, operation of the switch 50 causes the solenoid valv'e 51 to close and interrupt the supply of water to the tray.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, there is provided means whereby the receptacle 24 is automatically moved to its open oraccess or exl l tended position-whenever the frame 28 is withdrawn from the housing but whichalso permits the receptacle 24 to be independently slid forwardly to its access position without disturbing the frame 28 and the freezing tray 25 supported thereon. To this end, the forward portion of the frame 28 includes a front and handle section 55 including a lower edge portion 56 which normally extends downwardly into ythe interior of the receptacle 24. As the frame 28 is moved forwardly from within the housing 14, this lower edge portion 56 engages the front wall portion 57 of the receptacle 24 and causes Y the receptacle 24 to move forwardly along with the frame 28. Movement of the receptacle 24 to its normal or recessed position within the ,housing also carries the frame 28 with-it. However, the receptacle 24 can befindependently withdrawn from the housing without disturbing the frame 28 and the tray 25 supported thereon.

The -section 55 on the front of the frame 28 and the forward portion of the receptacle 24 which may include a handle 59 cooperate to close the front access opening 22 to the housing 14 when the receptacle and frame are in their normal or recessed posit-ions.

When the tray and receptacle arev in a recessed position within the housing, the refrigerated or cooled air from the evaporator 6 causes the contents of the tray and receptacle to be subjected to maximum freezing temperatures. In addition, by placing the entire ice service in the housing yor tunnel 14, the contents of 4the tray and receptacle are protected or separated from the remaining contents ,of the freezing compartment 1.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that it is not limited thereto and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such rchanges and modifications as fall Within thek true `spirit and invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Uni-ted States is:

1. A refrigerator including a freezer compartment having an access opening at the front thereof,

means including an air inlet adjacent the rear portion of said compartment for introducing cooled vair into said compartment,

a housing including a top wall and side walls and an access opening at the front thereof, said housing being positioned in said compartment to receive the cooled air from said inlet,

said housing including at least one air outlet in a forward wall portion thereof for conducting cooled air from said housing into said compartment,

a receptacle slidably supported in said housing for movement between a normal ing and an extended position in which at least a portion of said receptacle is positioned forwardly of said housing,

a frame and means for slidably supporting said frame in said housing above said receptacle for movement between a normal position in -said housing and a second position forwardly of said housing,

a freezing tray pivotally supported on said frame for movement of said tray 4about Ian axis adjacent one edge of said tray between an upright freezing position overlying one side portion -of said frame and an inverted discharge position overlying the other side port-ion when said frame is in its second position,

said frame including an -opening in said other side portion for passage of ice pieces into said receptacle when said tray is in its discharge position,

means operable when said frame is in its normal position and said tray is empty in its freezing position for automatically introducing a charge of water into said tray,

said tray yand 'receptacle including means for moving said receptacle to Aits access position when said frame is moved to its second position, said means scope of the position in said housf including a front wall on said frame including a lower edge portion extending into said receptacle and adapted to engage the front wall of said receptacle when said frame is moved towards its second position.

2. A refrigerator including a freezer compartment having an access opening at the front there-of,

mean-s including an air inlet adjacent the rear portion of said compartment for introducing cooled air into said compartment,

a housing including a top Wall and side walls and an access opening at the front thereof, said housing being supported on the bottom wall of said compartment yand positioned -in said compartment to receive the cooled air from said inlet,

said housing including a recess fin the forward edge portion thereof for conducting cooled air from said housing into said compartment,

a receptacle slidably supported in said housing for movement between a normal position 'in said housing rand an extended position in which at least a portion of said receptacle is positioned forwardly of said housing,

a frame and means for slidably support-ing said frame in said housing above said receptacle for movement between a normal position in said housing and a second position forwardly of said housing,

a freezing tray pivotally supported on said frame for movement of said tray about an `axis adjacent one edge of said Itray between an upright freezing position overlying one side portion of said frame and an inverted discharge position overlying the other side portion when said frame Iis in its second position,

said frame including an opening in said other side portion for passage `of -ce pieces into said receptacle when said tray is in its discharge position,

means operable when said frame -is in its normal position and said tray is empty in its freezing position for automatically introducing a charge of water into said tray,

said frame including a guard below said tray in its freezing position to prevent ice pieces in said receptacle from contacting said tray,

said tray -and receptacle including means for moving said receptacle to its access posi-tion when said frame is moved to its second position, said means including a front wall on said frame having a lower edge portion extending into said receptacle and `adapted to engage 4the front wall of said receptacle when said frame Ais moved towards its second position,

said front walls of said frame and receptacle closing said access opening to said housing when said frame and receptacle are contained within said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,277 7/1951 Hill.

3,089,312 5/1963 Harle 62--344 X 3,126,714 3/1964 Zuercher 62-137 3,163,025 12/1964 Dahlgren 62-344 X References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,407,053 9/1946 Clum.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING A FREEZER COMPARTMENT HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING AT THE FRONT THEREOF, MEANS INCLUDING AN AIR INLET ADJACENT THE REAR PORTION OF SAID COMPARTMENT FOR INTRODUCING COOLED AIR INTO SAID COMPARTMENT, A HOUSING INCLUDING A TOP WALL AND SIDE WALLS AND AN ACCESS OPENING AT THE FRONT THEREOF, SAID HOUSING BEING POSITIONED IN SAID COMPARTMENT TO RECEIVE THE COOLED AIR FROM SAID INLET, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE AIR OUTLET IN A FORWARD WALL PORTION THEREOF FOR CONDUTING COOLED AIR FROM SAID HOUSING INTO SAID COMPARTMENT, A RECEPTACLE SLIDABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A NORMAL POSITION IN SAID HOUSING AND AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE IS POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING, A FRAME AND MEANS FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING SAID FRAME IN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A NORMAL POSITION IN SAID HOUSING AND A SECOND POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING, A FREEZING TRAY PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAY ABOUT AN AXIS ADJACENT ONE 